No children at Greensboro immigrant facility because ‘capacity isn’t needed yet,’ mayor says
Brayden Stamps
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — More information has been revealed as the long-planned Greensboro Influx Care Facility nears operational status.
Greensboro Mayor Vaughan announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday that the facility “will be operational on March 15.” She added that, while the facility will be ready, “no children will be placed at the facility at this time.”
In A Pickle: Grocery store shopper bending over for items accidentally discharges gun
On Monday, Vaughan released more information after getting clarification from the Office of Refugee Resettlement at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families.
According to Vaughan, “operational” means the facility will be ready to receive children, but the capacity is not yet needed.
“ORR tracks the number of unaccompanied minors and the number of beds,” Vaughan said. “Once the number of beds reaches 85% capacity minors can be sent to Greensboro as needed. If the percentage falls below 85% the number of children sent to the Greensboro facility will decline accordingly. We will be notified before children arrive.”
Staff are currently conducting “mock scenarios” based on real-life situations.
“Each person’s experience will be different therefore the employees are being trained and cross-trained for a variety of situations,” Vaughan said. “Some of the staff is modeling the behavior of the children and the rest of the staff is acting as caregivers and vice versa.”
The facility is not making arrangements for religious services.
“If a religious institution is interested in ministry, please contact me and I will get them in touch with the appropriate personnel,” the mayor said.
North Carolina Congressional candidates respond
Multiple North Carolina 6th District candidates have responded to the scheduled opening of the facility.
Christian Castelli team released the following statement on Friday:
Allow me to be very clear. Our southern border, the border in crisis and being overrun by illegals, illicit drugs, and human trafficking, by the weak leadership and incompetence of Joe Biden has given away America’s sovereignty. The decision to use taxpayer dollars to house illegal migrants, feed them, cloth them, pay them, and care for them is an absolute slap in the face of the families and small businesses struggling because of Joe Biden’s failed economic policies and inflation.
Why are we spending American taxpayer dollars — let alone spending Veterans’ Administration funds — to care for illegal migrants while we neglect American families and small businesses struggling because of rising prices, inflation, and the failed economic policies of Joe Biden? We shouldn’t. We can’t. And when I’m your congressman, I will put an end to it.
Campaign Manager for Castelli for Congress Tina Forsberg
Mark Walker also released a statement on Friday, saying:
We strongly condemn this concept, and have so from the beginning. The secrecy over this process has shown poor leadership and created even more distrust among the people in Guilford County.
Matthews Police officer honored for saving unconscious woman from burning car
For the federal government to enter into contracts of over $200 million to house illegals, when our own schools, in Guilford County, are meeting in worn out trailers, is shameful.
I also pushback on the mayor’s efforts to rebrand this as the Greensboro children’s center. Here’s the truth: This academy for illegals will consist mostly males, ages 13 to 17 years old. If we’re going to have an honest discussion, it needs to be based in facts.
Whatever party affiliation, most Americans believe it is past time to secure the border. I’m running for Congress to do just that.
Mark Walker
A spokesperson for Addison McDowell sent the following statement to FOX8 on Friday:
Addison McDowell is running for Congress because he thinks the border should be secured so other families don’t experience a similar tragedy as his family did when they lost his younger brother to an illegal fentanyl overdose. And so Joe Biden won’t put all-expenses-paid illegal alien housing facilities in the middle of NC.
Advisor for McDowell for Congress Jonathan Felts, Jr.
Background
The facility, located on the former American Hebrew Academy campus at 4334 Hobbs Road in Greensboro, would house unaccompanied immigrant children temporarily — about two or three weeks — while family members and sponsors are located. The facility is intended to provide shelter for children ages 13 through 17 and has a capacity of up to 800 beds.